Corona | Coming Attractions

Additional casting has been reported on Peter Jackson's two back-to-back prequels that will return us to Middle-earth, The Hobbit. By far the biggest actor named in this new round of casting news is Cate Blanchett who will reprise her role from The Lord of the Rings trilogy of movies as the elf queen Galadriel.

"Cate is one of my favorite actors to work with and I couldn't be more thrilled to have her reprise the role she so beautifully brought to life in the earlier films," said director Peter Jackson, in a company issued press release about the casting.

Sylvester McCoy (the seventh Doctor Who) was also confirmed as playing the part of Radagast the Brown, a wizard.

Also mentioned in the announcement were:

• Ken Stott (Charlie Wilson's War) will play the dwarf Lord Balin.
• Mikael Persbrandt, a Swedish actor, is playing a shapeshifter named Beorn. "The role of Beorn is an iconic one and Mikael was our first choice for the part. Since seeing him read for the role we can't imagine anyone else playing this character," commented Jackson.
• Ryan Gage (Doctors, Outlaw) will be a Hobbit named Drogo Baggins.
• Jed Brophy, from New Zealand, is playing the dwarf Nori.
• William Kircher (Legend of the Seeker) will be the dwarf Bifur.

The six actors join the previously announced cast members which include Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins; Richard Armitage; Aidan Turner; Rob Kazinsky; Graham McTavish; Stephen Hunter; Mark Hadlow; Peter Hambleton; James Nesbitt and Adam Brown. One name that has yet to be officially announced is that of Ian McKellen. The Gandalf actor has commented that he is in contract discussions with the studio but with this most recent announcement it doesn't appear that any sort of agreement has been reached.

The two Hobbit films are in pre-production and will begin filming in New Zealand early next year. Both movies will be filmed in Digital 3D.